The Daily Observer (Banjul)
19 June 2008
editorial
Humans, with a few notable exceptions, have not yet demonstrated willingness and desire to make any sacrifice to assure a successful transition from a tiresome world to a one free of predicaments. Every blessed day, we wake up to new crisis.
It is either terrorism, or some news of political oppression, football fanaticism, racism, the list goes on and on. And energy has of late consistently dominated public discourse. Each of these has unique implications on this increasingly globalised world of ours.
Although it is not a strange subject of international row, the politics that help to maintain fuel shortage is so intricate that nobody appears to know if there is ever going to be an answer to its many problems. In fact, the actual problem facing us today is that we have not been able to come to agreement about the actual causes of the phenomenon. The major stakeholders; the US, Western European nations, the oil-rich nations of the Middle East, Russia, etc., do not seem quite ready to accept that the problems of this generation of ours, regarding energy, are their responsibility. This attitude at the global level is what prevails at local levels.
As at this moment, filling stations here in The Gambia are parked with cars, towing for fuel. Already, the impact is being felt by commuters. We find it very difficult to find someone to place the blame on. Unfortunately, it is in times like these that greedy drivers indulge in profiteering.
Major fuel exporting business people will undoubtedly point to the global trend, as a way of argument; but it cannot be always rational that every slight movement at that level should justify an unwarranted change at the local level. For the ordinary business people, this argument may not sound sturdy, because for them it is a matter of money-making. But the fact remains that for the average Gambian, it is a matter of survival. For us, however, and of course other nationalistic like-minded people, it is a matter of national interest. Every slight distortion caused by divisive issues like fuel increase reflects negatively on the national economy.
This latest talk of shortage in fuel is probably tormenting people about possible transport fare increment, and, who knows? The common driver might probably be thinking exactly that. But we are appealing to all and sundry to exercise patience and deal with the situation amicably without delay.
Of course, there is this suspicion that there is some level of foul play on the part of the people that control the industry. We are not supposed to, and we are not going to speculate about that. But all we can do is to appeal on behalf of the common man for restrain.
The intervention of the Euro African Group Ltd is welcomed and indeed timely. It behaves on the key players to institute practical mechanisms that will ensure uninterrupted supply of gas oil in the country, as any cut in supply could be costly for the country's already buoyant economy, which has consistently been winning the admiration of international institutions, such as the IMF and the World Bank.
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